JUNE 16, 1967 – The first Monterey International Pop Festival, a three day music event, began at the County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. 50,000 attendees paid between $3.50 and $6.50 to see more than two dozen acts, all of whom agreed to play for free so all proceeds could go to charity, and the “Summer of Love” was born.The festival saw the first major US appearances by The Who, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Also on the bill: The Byrds, Grateful Dead, Otis Redding, Simon & Garfunkel, The Steve Miller Band, Canned Heat, The Mamas And The Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Buffalo Springfield and The Electric Flag. John Phillips, of The Mamas and The Papas wrote “San Francisco, (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” to promote the festival, and the song later became a hit for Scott McKenzie. Filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker’s acclaimed 1969 documentary “Monterey Pop” was filmed during the festival.
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